Mechanical converter



D. C. DAVIS.

MECHANICAL CONVERTER.

APPLICATION FILED HJLY 3| I9l6.

28 J4 I Q U 29 24 Illllli WITNESSES: fim fl. M

Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

INVENTOR AITTORNEY the respective electrodes is to divert and suppresssuch sparks as may occur at the instant of breaking circuit because ofthe fact that the electromotive force of the supply wave atsaid'instantisi-notequal and opposite to the back electromotive force ofthe load.

lt-is obviousnthatthevalve mechanism should-beso adjusted that theinsulating globules are much Ion er than the conductmg. globules, even.w. en operating on a pure-resistance load, wherewith the circuit forwaves of each priority isclosed for an entire half cycle, as the circuitis closed from tho-instant the upper portion of'a globule makescontacLwith-the-lower portion of a ir ofelectrodesuntilsthe time whenthe wer-portionofthejglobule leaves the upper portion of a ofelectrodes.This dissymmetryjin therelati've size of the conductmgland insulating.globules is even greater whemopera ,onadead having a back eleetromotiveorce, as, under these conditions ,it is desirable-to maintain thecircuit closedvonl mduringa portion of the central zone; .of.eachgalternatini current wave. The purpose of the y-pass tube 35,together with thevalve outlet tubes 32 and 33 isto-jeliminateallistoppage of fluid flow as, at .the .IEelocity; whichthemechanism must" operate on -com'mercial: frequencies, uid hammer,-would ensue if it were attempteil: to entirely- Stop the liquid flowwith, each half cycle. -The purpose of the throttlingroriregulatin walve36 is to adiustthe' frictional hydrostatic head in the x pass. Win35toua'n imount substantially testbed: emountered in the rectifying'BDd-imthe retiun tube 15, thus perq' i jlmmeti'icalc distribution ofthe fluidsthroughoutdh: system. 5 -As further aidmg-propeneirculationthesystem, the tube 2 2:shouldhbe somewhatuestrictcd incrossseetiom'with-respectto the fluid flow therethrough,.-..-ascomparedwith the tube 23,;tlms' com ting for -ithe greater ten- ,deneyoftheE ight-insulating fluid to circu late throughthe 'sf'y'stem' I underthe constant propelling forceo the devicegflfl AIL-is; esirable; in myrectifying apparatu =inrommon-with--allother types of rect' ers; toreduce sparking to a minimum. The principalc'ause'of sparking is toattobreak the'rectifying circuit when current is flowing therein becauseof unbalanced voltage conditions. If the instant of break,=when'charging a battery, for example 'canbe adjusted to the time when thevoltage of-thealternatingcurrent wave is balanced by the backelectromotive forrcof the battery no sparking will ensue. l\ re ferenceto Fig. 3 wherein 46 represents a voltage wave of the supply, 47-47represents the battery voltage at the beginning of charge and =l348represents the lmlterv voltage at the end of charge, it is noted limbvoltage trodes, together with associate the proper time for closing therectified circuit grows later as the charge progresses, and the propertime for breaking said circuit grows earlier under like conditions.There are other contributing causes to sparking, such, for example, asalterations in the shape and magnitude of the supplywaves. It isaccordingly' desirable to provide auxiliary apparatus that shall respondto sparking and shall-so adjust the chore-described apparatus as toeliminate said sparking. Said adjustment should be in the nature ofincreasing or decreasing the length of the conducting globules in thetubes 9 and 10 while producing asupplementary alteration in the lengthof the insulating globules, one criterion of successful operation beingthat the sum of the lengths of a. conducting and ofail-insulating'globule shall be, at all times, substantially equal tothe distance between the centersof two successive pairs of electrodes.This adjustment should be in addition to the initial vertical adjustmentof the tubes 9 and 10 by means of thehandles l'tand 18, whereby thecenter of a conducting glob ule is brought opposite the center of a.pair of electrodes at the instant of maximum roltageinahalfc cle.

I provide the a ova-described automatic adj ustment of the length of theconducting globules by means of: two-resistance coils rd!) and 50mountedadjacent-to a air of elec The coils 49 and 50 are closelywrappedaround the u per ortioir of' a air ofelectrodes, as in icate in Fig. 2,ut-the coil 50 is preferably further removed from: the tube than is thecoil 49 and should,'in-addi t-ion; haven greater heat capacity; =Thecoils 49 and 50 are com osed of somesuch material as iron which as avery perceptible change in resistanceywith' a change in temperature. Thecoil 49 is inserteddn one side (if-a Wheatstone bridge 51' while thecoil 50 is inserted in the'corresponding side of a WVheatstone-bridge52. 'lhe upper and lower corners of the bridges 51'and 52 are energizedfrom a suitable current-source 53 and the'remaining sidesthereof'contain resistance members, as shown, whereby, at normaltemperatures, the side terminals of said bridges are maintained= in-=potential equilibrium. -The twoside terminals of the bridge 51 areconnected together-through the operating; winding of a relay-54 and adown inter ock on a relay 5 5; {The contact members of the switch 54,when closed, energize a motor 56 which is adapted, through suitablegearing, to move the septums 41 and 42 slightly to the left. thusshortening the conducting globules and correspondingly lengthening theinsulating globules in the tubes 9 and 10, without disturbing thelocation of the centers of the conducting globapparatus.

nles with respect to the centers of the electrodes at. the instant ofmaximum i'oitage. in each- Suppl wave. The side terminals of the bridge52 are connected together through the pera-tii'ig' winding of" the relayand said relay, when operated serves to dcenergize the relay 54 and toclose a. circuit operating' the motor 56 in the reverse direction andmoving the septums41 and 42. to the right, thus lengthening theconducting globules and correspondingly shortening the Insulat'ingglobules. The operation of said automatic regulating deviceis asfollows; that tli'em has developed such a nus-timing of the point -ofbreak that-sparking takes place at the pair of electrodes encompassed bythe windings 49' and 50. Both of sa d windi are afiecfied by the heat ofsaid sparking but the winding 49,-bQC-1IIIBB OfPlZS grcabui prosimityand smaller heat capacity, is -afl'ecflo'd much: more rapidlyand servesto firstuiihalance the bridge 51' to such ode- 'gree as' bo operate'itherelaylfii, causing the motor 56 to move the septums 4]: mind 42 to theleftyshortening the conductin' globules within the tubes 9 and 10its-desire. If, for any reason, howevcr,.the undesired sparking arises,not from too late but from too early 1!. break, saidloperation of thebridge 51 serves but to increasethe' same. -Under these conditions; thecoil 50 is soon affected to such anex'tent as to unhalance't'he bridge52,'ppcrating the relay 55, first to dc-energize the relay 54 and thento drive the'motor.56 in tha' o' posite direction, moving the septums41: an 42 to the right until sparkingdisapamp Under either conditiouofoperation, the cosntion ofsparking causes the coils 4:9 and 50 toreassumetheir cold resistance, balancing the bridges 51 and 52,do-eneigizing whichever relay 54: or 55 is closed and stopping the motor56; 1 4'5 If an automatic regulating device be desired which shall evenmore effectively rotcct the system from sparking, I may su divide thewindings 49cm! 50, placing a portion oieach 't-hereofiin operativeproximity toeach of the pairs of rectifying electrodes, ensuring acorrective action whenever sparkiug occurs at any pair of electrodesbut, for clearness of illustration, I have shown said resistancewindings as applied to only one pair of electrodes. I

If the tank 19 be of suflicicnt capacity, I may do away entirely with.the centrifu e action in the device 37,-,depending entire y upon naturalsettlement within the tank 19 to separate the conducting and insulatingfluids I have shown the spark-responsive or therrnomcsponsive regulatingapparatus as applied to a rectifier but it is obvious that simi- 65 larapparatus may he applied to obviate Let it be assumed prising pairo'fi'sp 321cc through said. tube, said'mcank 6 l/lU LBMS sparking in alltypes-of electrical apparatus, as for example, in dynamoelectricinac-hinery of the commutator type, 'etc.

\Vhile I' have shown my invenfiionin several forms, it: will heobviousbo thoseskilled in the art that it; is susccptible'of'variousminor changes and modifications withbut departing from thespiritgthcreoffaindfl de sire, therefore; that only such limitationsshall be placed thereupon asy'arc by the prior or as fall wifliin thesoope of the. append'cdclhimsl i I claim as my invention:

1.- A- circuit-controlli ag'g to comy e mans flor tproducai ga--- con(ucm an '-1nsu sting 'l i Ii if inc 8% therebgtween: and mailing contactthdi'ew'ifli, and menns=forchanng th6 relati'iic' langths of saidcondnctingWand Jinsiilating liquid bodies, whileimaingaining thciflvelocity'mib stantially comply i f 2."Theipombinirtinnfiithdflfirhefidinficd of insulating? materidiofaipainofeiectmds mounted on the inner macs-f remen electric circuit-connected110 fsaid fioficltoiles,

m eans for forcing theithroil'gli ii Of distinct? mnducti -liquiaigiobclea at suflicicnt me tanbouslyinlke' con tfact vi' th 1 0th siidelg t do mmi means or claim v te 'ongt V lbbiilcs while maintainingtheir velocity? Either-an: tially constant I i i The combination withmtuhvcom' of insulating maberiah 0f a' paii' '0 diedtrodes mounted on-thcinncr mil-fine thclieof,

on electric circuit 00'- trodcsL-rneans for forci :astrcani-of albatimtuconducting ma. insulating glollnlcs no" "to make said onducbinrfglobules d size to 'snnultaneousymalm contact withench of saidelectrodes, :alld metllfl" for changing the relative l .ofsai'd'conducting and insulating:- o ul eawhiic'maintaming their,volocitysu 'tially constant. 4. The combination with w-laihcofiifi'gulit; mg material,- of-. a pair of aedvehacbmdeS mounted on the inner wallereofian alternating-current circuit and-a continuous-current; circuitconnected to said electrodes; in lied of conducting liquid, abodj-ofiinsulating liquid, means hen to force liquid from both of said bodiesugh said tube, a valve mechanism. mounted: to control the admision ofliquid, to said tube-, asynchro nous motor for operati said valvemechanism, and connectiona lgiamsaid motor" to said alternating-currentcircuit, whereby said motor operates said valve mechanism-to alternatelyadmit. conducting and insulating fluid to said tube.

5. The combination with a tube of insulating material, of a pair ofspaced electrodes mounted on the inner Wall there/char l 130mating-current circuit and a continuous-current circuit connected tosaid electrodes, a body of conducting liquid, :1 body of insulatingliquid, menus tending to force liquid from both-of said bodies throughsni'dtubc, a valve mechanism dllOUl'ltGd to control the admission ofliquid to said tube, a synchronons motor for operating said valvemechamsm and connections from said motor to said alternating-currentcircuit, whereby said motor operates said valve mechanism alternatelyadmit conducting and insulating fluid to said tube, and means forvaryin'g'the relative lengths of the'eonducting and menlating'globulesadmitted to' said tube. i 6. n a circuit-controlling'device,the combination withfa plurality of i'ntsrcnnected pairs ofspaced'lectrodes, of means or causmg; a succemion of" mowing-=conducting bo 'es te-pass by said electrodes; whereby eachmovin bodymay successively complete connection between differentpairs of spacedelectrodes. f '2; 7. In a circuit-controlling devicegthe combinationwith means for causing 'each' body of asuccession of moving conductin'bodies to successively completeconneetion etiveen successive pairs ofspaced electrodes, of connections' between said pairs of electrodes midsaid circuit, whereby-two of sai d -pa irs'oi electrodes are connectedin parallel- -'relation in-the control of saidcirouit and tWo' of saidpairs of electrodes are connectedin series relation in the controlofsaid circuiti ;8.- The combination with a tube of insulatingmatrial;of a pluralityof' palirsrof spaced conducting electrodes disposedal'ongthe ilmer surface of-said tubeythe volume of saidtube betweensuccessive' pairseielee trodes being substantially-the same, means forpassing a succession of spaced globules of conducting liquidthrou h saidtube an alternating-curreut circuit Wing 11 neutral point, a.continuous-current circuit having onejterminal connected to said neutraloint, connections'from one SidBJOf said a tenting-current circuitthrough'one of said pairs of electrodes tofth'e otheriterminal of saidcontinuous-current circuit, and connections from the other 'side of saidalternatin .-cu 1'- rent circuit through another of said pairs-ofelectrodes to said second "mentioned terminal of said continuous-currentcircuit. 9. The combination with a tube of insulating material, ofaplurality of pairs of spaced conducting electrodes disposed along theinner surface of said tube, the volume of said tube between successivepairs of electrodes being substantially the same, means for passinc asuccession of spaced globules of conducting liquid through said tube, analternating-current circuit having a neutral point, a continuous-currentcircuit having one terminal connected to said neutral point.comiectioiis from one side of said alternat ing-current circuit throughone of said pairs of electrodes to the other terminal of saidcontinuous-current circuit, and connections from the other side of saidalternating-current circuit throu h another of said pairs ofelectrodesto sail? second-mentioned terminal of said continuous currentcircuit, imdmeans fonad'usting one of said pairs of electrodeslongitudinally of said stream.

' '10. 'A circuit-controlling device comprising a tubeofinsulatingmaterial, a pairof spaced conducting electrodes mounted on theinner-face thereof, and-means for forcing a =l'globuleoimOnductingliquid therethroug said electrodes being provided with tipsof refractory cond'ucfi'n material in the direction of of said globuleand said: globule ofsufiicient size to'simultaneouslyfl'make" contact"with each of said electrodes.-

circuit-interrupting device'mm a-tubeiof materialga air of spacedconducting-electrodes mounted won the innerface thereof; and means forforcing "a successionof globules of conducting drtherethrnugh; saidelectrodes -bting' providfid' tips of refractory cohdu' t l. 1 1 31501the direction of dglqhules globules eing ot suiiicient 'sizetosimultaneously make each-of saidelectrodes; "12. 1110" combination 'witha 'mechani-cal rectifier, theistic-responsive means mounted adjace t tothe eohtacb :members thereof and operative to reduce sparking whenenerg'iz'edb adjusting the time of break.

13. he combination with a mechanical rectifier;-' of thermo responsivemeans mount ed-=ad jaeent to the 'contactmembem thereof and} operativeto -"reduce the, voltage .-across saidcontact members at'theinsta'ntof-break if*-s11fllcient"voltage is present-to produce '14.= ecombination with 'a; source of alternating current; of a contactingrectifying-devibe, aunidirectional eurrentioed-having=a varisble backeleetromotive force, connecti'ons therebetween; and thermally rcsponsivemeansmounted ad'acent to the contact members ofsaid rectidevice andoperative Ito. automatically ad; 'the time of breakthembetwee'ntoiitheinstants when the vol of said source is substantiallyequal an opposite to thevoltage'of said load.

" l'ofiThe combination with a source; of alternating current, of acontactin rectifying device, aunidirectional-current cad having a risingback electromotive force as current is supplied thereto, connectionstherebetween, and thermo-responsive means mounted adjacent to thecontact members of said rectifying device and operative to advance thetime of break upon the initial occurence of sparking thereat.

16. The combination with a source of alternating current, of acontacting rectifying device, a unidirectional-currentload having arising back electromotive force as current is supplied thereto,connections therebetween, and thermo-responsive means mounted adjacentto the contact members of said rectifying device and operative toadvance the time of break upon the initial occur'ence of sparkingthereat, and further operative to retard the time of break upon thecontinuance of said sparkinrg.

17. The combination with a. evice subject to defective operationandwhaving two alternative and mutually-exclusive corrective adjustmentswhicheliminatesaid defective operation, of two-part, automatic,oorrective apparatus associated therewith, one part of said. correctiveapparatus being quickly 0 erative to aply one of said correctivejustmen'ts an the other]. art of said corrective apparatus beihg' slow'y operative to dominate said first mentioned .part and to apply theother corrective adjustment.

181 The combination with a; piece of :electrical apparatus: subjecttovsparking having we alternative and-mutuall exclusive correctiveadjustments which 1 said sparking, of two-part automatic-corrective.apparatus associated therewith, one part of said, corrective apparatusbeing quickly operative to.;ap,p1y one. of; .said corrective ajustrnents an the other art of said corrective apparatus -being' s1ow yoperative to dominatesai'd first mentioned. part and to apply the othercorrective ad ust- 19.- The-combination with a piece of electricalapparatus suliject to sparking and having twohalternativeand mutual]exclusin-corrective adjustments which -.el iminate said sparking, oftwo-part thermo-responsive corrective apparatus associated'therewith,one artfof said. corrective apparatus being qui operative toapply one.ofsaid corrective a justments t e other .part

of said corrective apparatus being slowly operative to dominate-saidfirst mentioned 'partand to apply the other corrective-adpistmente .20.--.-'lhe method of employing ,.-a. series of moving conducting bodies, ofsaid; bodies sucwssive'l'y making contact with difierentp'airs ofelectrodes,=:in the rectification of alternating current which comprisesoperating two pairs of said electrodes in parallel with-each other.

21. The method of employing a series of moving conducting bodies, eachof said bodies successively making contact with different pairs ofelectrodes, in the rectification of alternating current which comprisesoperating two pairs of said electrodes in series with each other. i

22. The method of employing a series of moving conducting bodies, eachof said bodies successively making contact with difierent pairs ofelectrodes, in the rectification of alternating which comprises em;-ployin'g one pair of said electrodes in the rectification ofalternating-current waves of one polarity and another pair of saidelectrodes in the rectification .of alternating-current'waves of theother ipolarity.

23. The method of controlling sparking in a mechanical rectifier whichcomprises placing the timing of the contact-making and mechanism under.the-contro of theme-responsive apparatus subject to the heat-generatedby sparking.

24. The method of automati 'lly correcting the operation of adevicesubject to-undesirable operation and having two vindeendent and mutuallyexclusive corrective adjustments --whicli comprises promptly applyingone of said corrective ad'ustments and simultaneously bu more slow-y aplyii :theother of said a jus'tments, s'aids' owac ing adjustmentovercoming the said promptly acti-n adjustment after:Lpredetermined-peri 25. The method of automatically correcting forsparking in a mechanical rectifier operating to supply aload'ha'vingavariable back clectromotive force which comprises automatically thepointof break in one direction along. 1; e alternating-electromotiveforce wave. and .ifsaid adjustment is ineffective, automation 1yshifting the point of break in the other directihn along-said wa ve. a

26S Theinethod ofautomaticallcorrecting for sparking in a -mechanicarectifier operating to supply a load havingv a :rising back*electromotive force. which comprises first. automatically advancing thetime --of break on each electromotive force wave of thesupply, and, saidaction is inefiective, subsequently automatically retarding said time ofbreak.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name'this with dayof June, 191-6.

DAVID C. DAVIS.

